Born in 1948 in Sulyukta, Kirgizia. In 1974, he graduated from the Novosibirsk State Conservatory. In 1977, he founded the Children’s choir studio in Sosnovy Bor and was its Artistic Director till 1988. In 1986-1997, he was Principal Conductor and Artistic Director of the Leningrad TV Choir, in 1989-1991, he was Artistic Director and Conductor of the Boys Choir of the Glinka Choir School. In 1998-2007,he was Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the concert chorus of the Mikhailovsky Theatre, since 2007 he has been Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Mikhailovsky Opera Chorus.

He has recorded over 20 CDs and has conducted over thousands of concerts in Russia, Denmark, France, Italy, Switzerland, and England. He holds master-classes in Germany, Holland, and France. Since 2004 he has been a professor at the choral department at the St Petersburg Herzen State Pedagogical University. In 2005, he was awarded the title of Honored Artist of Russia.

In 2006, he was the head of the State Committee for Choral Conducting at the St Petersburg Culture Academy.